47th Avenue Farm

One sunny afternoon on a faraway summer’s day, Laura Masterson launched her pioneering CSA. Working an oversize double lot in Portland’s Woodstock neighborhood (thus our name!), her original mission simply to grow fresh, local produce for her friends and neighbors nearby. That was back in 1996 (my, how the time has flown!). But soon enough, Laura’s infectious enthusiasm for delicious, sustainably-farmed produce spread like summer squash, and now, nearly 3 decades later, we operate a year-round CSA to serve our beloved shareholders, some of the city’s top restaurants, and anyone who craves the freshest, best and most responsibly farmed produce. All of our farm properties are managed sustainably using cover crops between vegetable rotations; beneficial insects; drip irrigation; and conservation tillage techniques. This farming strategy that looks at thewholesystem not only improves the tilth and fertility of the farmland, it protects the woods, wetlands and communities that surround our farms. And it simply makes better vegetables. That commitment is also why we've been farming our pristine Grand Island property with draft horses as much as possible. First, of course, the only pollution they make can be converted into compost! But even better, their comparatively light and varied footprint means less soil compaction and therefore, healthier soil for vegetables. What would happen if a communitypartneredwith its farmers to produce the freshest, most responsibly grown vegetables possible? Well, you’d have a CSA, an inspired model that’s served us and our shareholders for nearly three decades. In “traditional” industrial agriculture, the value of produce is defined almost exclusively by price – not by how fresh or responsibly farmed it is – and that in turn fosters a race to the bottom: to be competitive and make a living, farmers have to cut corners. And in the process, wealllose. By contrast, in a CSA members pay in advance for their share of the season’s bountiful harvest. That not only provides financial support to farmers early in the cycle when they need it most, the certainty of income means they can allocate their resources more efficiently and responsibly: toward truly sustainable (and more labor intensive) farming practices, but also bringing shareholders unique, artisanal, and thoroughly tasty produce. Here in the Willamette Valley, our Summer Sharestarts in mid-May and continues through October, offering a changing menu every week as different vegetables reach their peak of flavor. Early spring starts with fresh herbs, fava beans, green garlic, and all the elements of a crisp salad. Sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes and other traditional summer crops reach their peak in August and September. In the fall, we grow hardy winter staples like Japanese kabocha squash, toscano kale, and fingerling potatoes. But in our temperate climate, nature is far from done at the end of October, so why should we be? That’s why we also offer a unique, twice-a-month Winter Sharefrom November through April. Featuring a bounty of greens, root vegetables, and herbs, we also coax broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts and more from the cool earth. Shareholders pick up their veggies in SE Portland's Woodstock neighborhood, where the farm started nearly three decades ago. We outgrew the small farm plot there almost immediately, but we love the taste of history and tradition (and convenience) it offers our shareholders. Depending on the time of year, you’ll stop by once a week through the summer growing season (or every other week during the winter share) to fill a bag or more (depending on the share option you’ve chosen) of freshly-picked veggies. A list will tell you how much food to take, and there’s ample opportunity for sampling, socializing, and trading recipes. Sound good, if not yummy? Fantastic! Joining our CSA is just a couple of clicks/taps away. See you at pickup! Here at 47th Avenue Farm, we've been treading lightl